Motor-operated switch.



BEST AVAILABLE H. M. STEVENS. MOTOR OPERATED SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1906,

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

' Witnesses:

H. M. STEVENS.

MOTOR. OPERATED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1906'.

Patented June 9, 1914.

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APPLICATION FILED MAY 28, 1906 Patented June 9, 1914.

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@ 04; I 9 AHA H. M. STEVENS.

MOTOR OPERATED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 28,1906.

Patented J une 9, 1914 5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

VV/zness es mvenorx Harm Mteyefls,

- I fitig STEVENS.

- MOTOR OPERATED SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED MAY28,1906.

Patented June 9, 1914.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

/0/ ml emiorf Harry M 5t 6 1/6775,

W/t nesses:

HARRY 1'11. SILK E1653, 01F SCHENECTAIDY, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENEBEL ELECTRIC GGBKPANY, A CORPORATION 6F NEW YORK.

MQTOROPERATEID SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June E9, 1914.

Application filed May 28, 1906. Serial No. 319,114.

To all whom, it may concern Be 1t known that I, HARRY M. S'rnvnns, a

citizen of the United States, residing at' Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of Sew York, nave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motor- Operated Switches, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to switches operated'by power. and controlled at a point re mote from the switch, q

'It is desirable that a switch used for controlling circuits carrying. alternating-currents should close quickly and open quickly, and for this purpose, especially where hightension currents are used, a switch controlled from a remote pointcis desirable. Many switches of this type heretofore in use have been complicated in structure, containing many parts expensive to manufacture and being difficult to operate by hand in case the supply of power for the motor fails.

The object of this invention is to provide a switch operated. by a motor mechanism and controlled from a remote point, which will closethe circuit quickly and open it quickly; which will trip free of the operating mechanism and open if an attempt is made to close the switch when there is an overload upon the circuit; which may be operated by hand, to open or close the circuit at the same speed as when operated by the motor mechanism; which maybe operated by hand without disconnecting the motor; and in general to improve and simplify the construction of switches of this type.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view showing an operating mechanism controlling three switches for the leads of a three-phase circuit; Fig. 2 an end view of the switch shown in Fig. 1, in the closed position; Fig. 3 a plan View of the switch-operating mechanism; Fig. a a sectional view on the line -i4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 a sectional view on the same line, showing the parts in a different position, the motor and the gearing connected thereto being omitted; G'a sectional view -on the line 66 of Fig. 3, with some parts removed; and Fig. 7 a diagram showing the connections and circuits for controlli'ng the switch-operating mechanism.

The switches shown in the drawings for controlling the main-circuit are of a well known type, and are no part of the present invention. The switches are mounted upon a panel or switchboard l of slate or other insulating material. Each switch consists of fixed contacts 2, having stems 2 and held in position on the switchboard by means of nuts 3, which also serve to attach the leads of the main circuit to the terminals. The

circuit between the fixed contacts is closed by means of a bridging contact 4, preferably made of laminations so as to beelastic and come into firm engagement with the contacts 2. Each bridging contact carries a shunt contact 5, preferably of metal, and a secondary shunt contact 6, preferably of carbon or other refractory material, 00- operating with similar fixed shunt contacts carried by, the panel. "When the circuit is opened the final arc is formed between the shunt contacts made of carbon. Barriers of slate or other insulating material are provided between the switches, so as to prevent arcs striking over from the switch in one phase to the switch in another phase. In each switch the bridging contact 4 is secured to one end of a rockarm 8, the other end of which is pivoted to the, panel 1. A cramping frame composed of two links 9 one on either side of arm 8, is also attached to the panel, and a cramping arm 10, carrying a lug 11 and a stop 12, is secured to the cramping frame by means of a pivot 13 and to the rock-arm 8 by means of a pivot 14.

'The rock-arm 8 also carries a projection 15. The cramping frame, cramping arm 10 1 and rock-arm 8 form a toggle mechanism, by means of which the bridging contact 4 may be brought into firm engagement with the contacts 2. lVhen the toggle is broken the pivot of the rock-arm 8, the pivot 14; and the pivot 13 form substantially a straight line, the parts being stopped in this position by the engagement of the projection 15 with thestop 12.

The stem 2*"- of the lower contact 2 issurrounded by an iron yoke 16 in the form of horse-shoe magnet having an armature 17 secured thereto by means ofa pivot 18.

The armature of each 01 the switches is normall in the position shown in Fig. 1, and the position of the armature in reference to the yoke 16 is controlled by a calibrating screw 19 mounted in a lug 20 secured to the iron yoke. The yoke is magnetized by, the passage of me current through the stem 2, and tends to attract the armature 1?. When the attraction is sufficiently strong the armature is lifted and brought into engagement with the pole-pieces of the yoke 16. length of. the gap between the pole-pieces and the armature, when the armature is in the normal position, may be controlled by the calibrating screw 19, so that the armature will respond only when an excessive current is flowing tln'ough thecircuit.

Two auxiliary contact devices are mounted on the panel near each switch for the purpose of controlling the switch operating mechanism. One of the auxiliary contact devices consists of a spring-pressed stem 21 normally held in the position shown in Figs. ,and 2 by means of a spring, not shown. .The upper end of this stem carries a bridging contact which, when the stem is lifted against the tension of the spring, comes into engagement with fixed contacts 22 and closes the circuit between said fixed contacts. The stem .21 is mountedin such a position that when the armature 17 is attracted by the yoke 16 the end of the armature engages the end of the stem and moves it so as to close the circuit between the contacts 22. The other auxiliary contact device consists of a stem 23 carrying a bridging contact 24, which may be brought into engagement with fixed contacts 25. spring not shown tends to move the stem 23 so as to bring the bridging piece 24 into engagement with the contacts 25 and close the circuit. he auxlliarycontact device, however, 15 so placed,

as shown in Fig. 2, that whqi the main switch is closed the bridging contact 4-thereof engages the stem 23 and holds the bridging piece 24 out of engagement with the fixed contacts It is evident that as soon as the main switch opens the bridging piece 24 engages the contacts 25, thereby closing the circuit between said contacts.

The main switch is operated by means of the cramping arm 10, and when this aim is moved in the direction of the arrow a the switch is opened and the bridging piece 24 closes the:circuit between the contacts 25. When the cramping arm 10 is moved in the other direction, the main switch is closed and the bridging contact 4 comes into engagement with the stem 23, thereby pushing the bridging piece 24 out of engagement with the contacts 25.. In case of an overload, the iron yoke 16 attracts the armature 17, and the end of the armature engaging the stem 21 causes the circuit between the contacts 22 to be closed.

The.

'to the cramping arm by means of a clamp 27 and a pin 28, and the other end is connected to the operating mechanism by means of a similar clamp 29 and pivot 30. The clamps 27 and 29 are adjustably mounted upon the rod 26 so as to provide means for varying the distance between the pivot 30 and the pin 28.

The switch-operatingmechanism is mounted upon a base 31, which carries standards 32 and 33. A rockshaft 34. is suitably mounted in journals in the standards 32, and a pivot-shaft is suitably mounted in the standards 33. The rock-shaft 34 carries switch-operating arms 36 clamped thereto and connected to the rods 26 by means of the clamps 29, and also an actuating arm 3? securely attached to the shaft. A spiral spring 38 encircles the rock-shaft and has one end in engagement with a lug 39 secured to the standard 32; the other end of the spring engages a lug 4O adjustably secured on the rock-shaft, and the relation of these lugs is such that the spiralspring is put. under strain when the switch is closed. The rock-shaft 34 also has secured thereto a contact-carrying arm 41 in the end of which is mounted a contact 42, cooperating with two sets of fixed contacts 42 and 42 mounted upon the base. mounted thereon an operating sleeve 43, this sleeve having rigidly secured thereto a tog- The pivot-shaft 35 hasgle arm 44, an actuating arm 45, on the end the rock-shaft 34 by means of a link in .the A form of a toggle composed of links-'50 and 51, the link 50 being connected to the actuating arm 37 and the link 51 being pivoted to the toggle arm 44. The link 50 has ashoulder 52 which engages a stop-pin 53 carried by the link 51, and when this shoulder is in engagement with the stop pin the toggle is slightly over-set and acts as a rigid connection between'the arm 37 and the toggle arm 44. The link 51 also carries a trip-toe 54, by means of which the toggle may be broken. A locking device actingin opposition to the toggle arm 44 is also connected to the arm 37 for the purpose of holding this arm in the position shown in Fig. 4. This locking. device is preferablyin the form of a toggle composed of links 55 and 56, the link 55 having a shoulder 57 which engages a stoppin 58 on the link 56, when the toggle is aeeaeaa sli 'htl overset. therehv formin a ri id t. y .I b 0 WVh'en the toggle 56 is extended, there fore, there is a rigid connection betweenthe arm 37 and the pivot forming a lock for the arm 37.

In the structure so far described, the toggle 5051 when extended, forms, in conjunction with the toggle arm 44, an operat: ing toggle or powernmltiplying connection by means of which the actuating arm 37 may be moved for the purpose of bringing the parts into the position shown in-Fig. 2. The toggle 5556, when extended, locks the actuatingarm 37 in the position assumed by the parts when the switch is, open, asshown in Fig. 4; l

A trip lever 61 made in the form of a bellcrank lever, is mounted on a pivot 62 carried by 2. lug on the base, and one arm of this trip-lever 'ztorms a tripping plate 63, which engages the tripping-toes .54 and 59. The end of th'e trip-lever adjacent the tripping plate is engaged by a trip-pin 64 carried by the movable core 65 of a solenoid 66 which is mounted in a casing 67 formed in the base.

On the other end of the trip-lever a dog 69 is mounted upon a pivot 68. This dog is provided with a projection which engages a shoulder on 'the trip-lever and locks the dog with reference to the trip-lever when the dog is moved in one direction, but leaves the dog free toswing about the pivot when moved in the other direction. A trip=sleeve 70 is carried by a pin 70 mounted in lugs on the base near the trip-lever 61, and carries a trip-arm 71 and a heel 72. An operating arm 73 is also rigidly attached to the tripsleeve, and connected to this arm is a triprod 74 having a handle 7 5. When the solenoid 66 is energized the trip-pin 64 is raised and raises the trip-lever 61 into operative position. The lever can'also be raised to operative position by means of the handle 75, since the actuation of this handle brings the trip-arm 71 into engagement with the dog 69. When the trip-arm 71 engages the dog 69, the heel on the dog engages a projection on the, trip-lever, forming a rigid connection therewith, and the trip-lever 6l is swung about the pivot 62 into operative position.

When the operator pulls the handle 75to the right he must exert considerable force to break the toggle against which the trip-lever 61 is pressing. When the toggle breaks,

however, the resistance to the movement of the trip-lever is removed, and the handle 75 moves suddenly to the right, carrying the trip-arm 71 past. the dog'69 and free from the trip-lever 61.

As a result the trip-lever is permitted to fall back to normal-inoperative position, and hence, under ordinary conditions, there is no danger of the trip; lever 61 being held in operative position so as to prevent the setting of the toggles and the operation of the switch. To again operate the trip lever by hand it is necessary to push the handle .75 to the left until the trip-arm 71 again operatively engages the dog 69.

The movement of the rock-shaft 34 is caused by oscillating the operating sleeve 43 upon the pivot For the'purpose of moving the operating sleeve 43 an actuating cam 76 of spiral form and engaging the roller 46 is provided: and, as a resultzof the form of this cam, the roller carrying arm 45 is gradually raised, bringing the toggle-arm 44 into the position shown in'Fig. 5. When the toggle-arm 44 has been moved to this position the high part of the cam 76 passes from under the roller 46- and the operating sleeve 43 would then be free to move back to'the position shown in Fig. 4, if it were not restrained by some kind of locking means. The cam 76 is keyed upon a cam-shaft 77, to which is attached a gear-wheel 78 having on one side thereof a cam 79. The cam-shaft is suitably mounted in journals 80 secured to the base. The gear-wheel 78 engages with a spur-gear 80, car ried upon a countershaft 81 uponwhich is secured a worm-gear 82 engaging a worm 83 driven by a motor 84.- This motor is mounted upon the base, as shown, and may be of any suitable kind, although I have shown an electromotor, which is preferably used. A rod 85, connected to the operating sleeve 43 in any convenient Way, preferably bybeing pivoted to the toggle-arm 44, extends through an opening in the base and carries at the lower end thereof a disk 87 held in position by lock-nuts 88. threaded upon the rod. By means of these lock-nuts the position of the disk upon the rod can be altered. I A spiral spring 89 surrounds the rod 85, and has one end in engagement with the base, while the other end is in engagement with the disk 87.v It is apparentthat any other form of power-storing device could be substituted for the spring 89, and the spiral spring shown is only oneof the many forms in which this part of the device may be embodied. A buffer 90 is secured to the base in position to be encountered bythe togglearm 44 when said arm assumes the position shown in Fig. 4: As the cam 76 rotates and Ill raises the actuating-arm 45'thetoggle-arm 44 is also raised, putting spring 89 under.

compression; when the parts reach the posi tion shown. in Fig. 5, the spring is under compression and tends to straighten out the operating toggle formed by the toggle-arm 44 and the over-set toggle 50-51, but is held in the position shown in Fig. 5 by a locking means comprising the toggle 55-56. When the locking means is released the expansion ofthe spring89 straightens out the operating toggle, causing the parts to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. I

Controlling switches for the circuit of the motor are conveniently mounted upon the base, so as to be operated by the movement of the switch-operating mechanism. The switchesof which the contacts 42 and 49 are elements have already been described. A switch-arm 91, carrying a contact 92 which cooperates with fixed contacts 92*, is mounted upon a pivot 93, and a spring 94 connected to the switch-arm tends to move the contact 92 into engagement with the fixed contacts 92 and close the circuit. Another switch-arm '95 mounted in the same vertical plane as the switch-arm 91 and car rying a contact 96 which cotiperates with fixed contacts 96 is mounted upon a pivot 97. A spring 98 connected to the switcharm 95 tends to hold the contact 96 out of engagement with the fixed contacts 96, thereby tending to open the circuit in which the contacts 96 are included. The func- 'tions of these switches will be explained in thedescription of the operation of the devlce.

As shownin Fig. 7 the bridging contacts 4 control the leads 99 of the maincircuit. A control-circuit for the switch-operating mechanism is provided, having positive leads 1'00 and a negative lead 101. A lead 102 connects the positive lead with the blade 103 ccoperating with fixed contacts 104 and 105 of the controlling switch. Signal lamps 106 and 107 are provided, the lamp 106 being connected in parallel with the switch-blade 103 and the contact 104, while the lamp 107 is connected in parallel with the switchblade 103 and the fixed contact 105. As a result of this arrangement, when the switch blade 103 is in engagement with the contact 104 practically all the current will flow through the switch-blade and the lamp 106 will be extinguished, while for the same reason when the switch-blade 103 is in engagement with the fixed contact 105 the lamp 107 will be extinguished.

The operation of the device is as follows: The mechanism is shown in Fig. 7 in the I position assumed by it when the main circuit is closed. .If it be desired to open the main circuit, the switch-blade 103 is thrown into engagement with the fixed contact 105,

which operation, for the reasons above noted, extinguishes the lamp 107 and thereby indicates to the operator that the main switch is being opened. Current then flows from the positive lead 100 through the lead 102,

switch-blade 103, contact 105, leads 108 and 109, fixed contacts 42'', contact 42, lead 110,

contact 96, fixed contacts 96 lead 111,

through the trip-coil 66, and to thenegative lead 101. The circuit is thus completed and roeaeas the rock-shaft, to move out of engagement with the contacts 42 thus deenergizing the trip coil and allowing the trip-pin 64 and the tripping plate 63 to return to inoperative position, while the contact -42 moves into engagement with thecontacts 42". At the same time, the opening of the main switch has permitted the spring-pressed stem' 23 to draw the bridging-piece 24 into. engagement with the contacts 25, thereby. closing a circuit between said contacts 25. As a result of these changes in the connections, current now flows from the positive lead 100 through the leads 112, 113, 114, across the gap between the contacts 25, which is now closed by the bridging-piece 24, thence through the leads 115, 116, 117, contact 49, fixed contacts 49 leads 118, 119, through the field 84 of the motor, through the armature of the motor and back to the negative lead 101 by way of the lead 120. The motor circuit is thus completed and the motor begins to run. It will be observed that this circuit through the motor is entirely independent of the control-switch, and therefore theoperator is powerless to stop the motor by moving the switch-blade 103 away from the contact 105.

When the motor starts, the gear-wheel 78 and the cam 76 are turnedin the direction of the arrows b. As the gear-wheel 78 1'0- tates, the cam 79 passes from under the end of the switch-arm 91, and the spring 94 draws the contact 92 into engagement with the fixed contacts 92. Further rotation of the gear-wheel 78 moves the cam 79 from under the end of the switch-lever 95 and the spring 98 then draws the contact 96 away from the fixed contacts 96, thereby opening the circuit through the trip-coil 66 at that point. At this time, therefore, it is impossible by means of the "control-switch either to stop the motor or to energize the trip-coil 66. As'the 'gear-wheel 78 and the cam 76 continue to rotate, the cam by its engagement. with the roller 46 lifts .the actu- Lating arm 45, thereby putting the spring 89 under compression, and at the same time moving the contact 49 out of engagement with the fixed contacts 49, and breaking a circuit through the motor by Way of leads 117 and 118. Before this occurs, however, the contact 92 has come into engagement with the fixed contacts 92, and current now flows from the lead 116 through the lead 121,

contact 92, leads 122 and 119 to the motor, hence the opening of the circuit by the contact 49 does not stop the operation of the motor. The motor continues to run until the high part of the cam 76 passes from under the roller 46, at which time the spring is fully compressed and the parts of the Fig. 7, and the completion of this movement brings the cam 79 into engagement with the switch-arm 95, thereby throwing the contact 96 into engagement with the fixed contacts 96 and closing the circuit between the leads 110 and 111. At the completion of the series of operations above described, therefore, the main circuit is open and the spring 89 is under tension, ready to close the switch at any time. The switch may also be opened as a result of an overload upon the circuit, in which case the armature 17 is attracted by the yoke 16 to close the gap between the contacts 22. WVhen this occurs, current flows from the positive lead 100 by way of the leads 112, 113, 114,

'across the gap between-the contacts 22 to the leads ,124 and'125, and thence to the lead 109. The operation is then the same asvthat above described when the circuit is closed by bringing the switch-blade 103 into engagement with the contact 105.

\Vhen the switch is open the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 7, except that the contact 42 is in engagement with the fixed contacts 42, the bridging-piece 24 is in engagement with the contacts 25, the actuating arm 45 is raised, and as'a result of the parts being in the position shown in Fig. 5, the tripping-toe 59 of the locking toggle 5556, instead of the tripping-toe 54 of the toggle 5051, is over the trip-plate 63. If, with the parts in these positions, it be desired to close the switch, the switch-blade 103 is brought into engagement with the contact104; the lamp 106 is short-circuited and extinguished, and current flows from the lead 100 through the lead 102, switch-blade 103, fixed contact 104, lead 123, contacts 42 and contact 42, lead 110, contacts .96 and contact 96, lead 111, through the trip-coil 66 to the negative lead 101. The trip-coil is energized, breaking the toggle 5556, and permitting the spring 89 to expand, which thereby straightens out the operating toggle formed by the toggle-arm 44 and the over-set toggle 5051,

and moves the rock-shaft to the position shown in Fig. 2, whereby the main switch is closed. When the main switch closes, contact 42 is moved out of engagement with the contact 42 and into engagement with the contacts 42. This movement breaks the circuit through the trip-coil and the parts assume the position shown in Fig. 7. The motor is not operated when the switch is closed, since the switch when closed is always in condition to open quickly and it is unnecessary tokeep the spring 89 under strain, except during the time the switch is open.

It is apparent that if for any reason the control-circuit becomes disarranged, or the motor becomes inoperative, the switchmay be closed by'means of a. bar or lever inserted in the socket 47 of the operating sleeve 43 to rock the sleeve 43 and put the spring 89 under compression. l/Vhenever the switch is inoperative for either of theabove reasons,

the cam 76 is in the position shown in Fig.-

4, and does'not interfere in any way with the movement of the operating-sleeve 43 by hand. Since under the conditions the only way in which the switch can be closed by hand is by first compressing the spring 89' and then tripping the switch by means of the handle 75, it is evident that the switch is closed as rapidly when operated by hand as when operated by the motor.v Since, also, the only way inwvhi'ch the switch can be opened is by breaking the locking toggle 50-51, it is apparent that the switch opens as rapidly when opened by hand as it does when opened by the trip-coil 66. The switch,

therefore, can be operated by hand without making any changes or disconnecting any parts, and when so operated works in the same way asthough driven by the motor.

The motor 84 may be disabled, thereby necessitating the operation of the switch by hand, although the supply of current to the leads 100 and 101 isnot interrupted. Under these conditions th-e switch can be tripped and closed by means of the handle 75. As above explained, as-soon as the locking toggle 5556. is broken the triplever 61 is freed from the control of the hand tripping mechanism and falls back into inoperative position, asshown in Fig. 4. The trip lever 61, however, isalways in operative position, as regards the trip-coil 66, and'hence, if an overload exists upon the line when the switch is being closed, the trip-coil 66 is energized as soon as the switch contacts en-v gage, thereby lifting the trip-lever 61 and breaking the toggle 5051 and permitting the switch to open immediately.

It is evident that even though the motor 84 be inoperative and the spring 89 be broken the switch can still be operated by means of a lever inserted in the socket 47. Under these circumstances the sleeve 43 must be oscillated in both directions by hand, and the operated by the motor, since the rapidity of opening is not affected by the manner in which the switch is closed.

I Obviously, many changes and alterations may be made in. the embodiment of my invention, and I, therefore, do not wish to be restricted to the precise form shown and described, but intend to cover by the claims all changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of my invention.

V hat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,

1. In an electric switch, the combination with a switch member, of an actuating spring, anormally positivecollapsible con nection between said spring and said member to permit movement of said member independently of said spring, adevice for setting said spring under strain, and means for operating said device upon collapse of said connection.

2. In a switch actuating mechanism, the combination with an actuating spring,'of a member connected to said spring, a cam for moving said member to put said spring under strain, means for bringing the cam into and out of engagement with said member, and locking means for engaging said member to hold the spring under strain.

8.1n an electric switch, an actuating spring, an actuating member connected to said spring, a cam for moving said actuating mentber to strain said spring, auxiliary ieans for moving said member away from said cam to strain said spring, and locking means for holding said spring under strain.

at. In a switch operating mechanism, the combination with an actuating spring, of a cam movable to a predetermined position and shaped to put the springunder strain during its movement and finally leave the spring free to expand when the cam reaches Said position, means for moving said cam to .said position, and locking means for retaining the spring under strain.

5. The combination with a switch operating member, of an operating toggle connected to said member to Close the switch when said toggle is straightened, an actuating spring connected to said toggle to straighten it as said spring expands, means for forcibly breaking said toggle and thereby putting said spring under strain, and

restraining means for holding said spring I set under strain.

6.111 an electric switch, an operating member, an operating toggle connected to said member, a spring connected to one of the toggle links and tending to straighten the toggle, a cam for moving said toggle link to put the spring under strain, and driving means for said cam.

7. The combination with a switch operating arm, of an operating toggle connected thereto, a spring for straightening said toggle, means for breaking said toggle and therebyputting said spring under tension, and locking means for said toggle.

8. The combination with a switch-arm, of an operating toggle having one link connected to the arm and the other link pivoted to a stationary lug, a spring connected to one of said links to straighten the toggle when the spring expands, motor, and a cam driven thereby to compresssaid spring.

9. The combination with a switcharm, Qf

an operating toggle having one link connected to the arm and'the other link pivoted to an abutment for resisting the thrust of v said toggle, a spring connected to one of said links to straighten the toggle when the spring expands, a motor and a spiral cam driven thereby to compress said spring.

10. A rock-shaft having a switch operating arm thereon, a pivot parallel to said rock-shaft, a sleeve mounted upon said pivot, arms on said sleeve, a toggle connection between one of said arms and said switch operating arm, a cam engaging an other of said arms, and means for rotating said cam.

11. A rock-shaft having a switch operating arm thereon, a pivot parallel to said rock-shaft, a sleeve mounted upon said pivot, arms on said sleeve, a toggle connection between one of said arms and said switch operatingarm, a cam engaging another of said arms to break said toggle connection, means for rotating said cam, a spring connected to one of said arms and strained by said cam, and locking means for holding said spring strained.

12. The combination with a switch-arm, of an operating toggle connected to said arm, one link of said toggle being a normally positive-collapsible connection, means for collapsing said connection and an actu ating spring connected to the toggle to straighten it as the spring expands.

13. The combination with a. switch member, of operating means connected to said member by a normally positive collapsible connection, a fixed abutment, a normally collapsible connection between said abut ment and said member, and common means for collapsing either of said connections.

14:. The combination with a rock-shaft having an arm thereon, of a fixed lug on each side of said rock-shaft, a normally positive collapsible connection between one of said lugs and said arm, and a spring actuated operating toggle between the other lug and said arm.

- 15. The. combination with a switch operating arm, of a fixed abutment, a normally positive collapsible connection between said arm and said abutment, spring operat- 'sible connection between Said operating means and said arm. I

16. The combination with "a rock-shaft having an arm thereon, of a fixed lug on each side of said rock-shaft, a normally positive collapsible connection between one of said lugs and said arm, and an operating toggle between the other lug and said arm, one of the links of said toggle being a normallypositive collapsible connection.

17. The combination with a rock-shaft having an arm thereon, of a lug on each side of said rock-shaft, a normally positive collapsible connection between one of said lugs and said arm, an operating toggle be tween theother lug and said arm, one of the links of said toggle being anormally positive collapsible connection, and common means for collapsing either of saidjconnections. I

18. A switch operating arm, locking means connected to said arm to hold said "switch open, closing means for said switch,

a normally positive collapsible connection between said closing means and said arm, and a common tripping means operative on said locking means when the switch is open and on said connection when the switch is closed.

19. In a switch operating mechanism, combination with a spring, of'an operating member actuated by said spring, a cam for setting said spring under strain and leaving it free to expand, locking means for holding said spring under strain, a motor for actuating said cam, and a switch actuated by said cam for controlling the operation of said motor.

40 20. In aswitch operating mechanism, the

combination with a spring, of an operating member actuated by said spring, a member for setting the spring under strain whenmoved, a cam having a working face formed with a gradual rise for moving said member and an abrupt drop to permit the spring to expand 'freely to actuate said operating member, an electricmotor for actuating said cam, and a switch actuated by said cam for controlling'the motor. v

21. The combination with a'main switch x of a spring for operating said switch, autothe her in the other direction, and means for manually moving said member 1n bothd1- rections.

I 23. In an electric switch, the combination with tripping, mechanism comprising restraining means for holding the switch closed, of a manually operable member having two extreme positions, in both of which said restraining means is free to hold the switch closed, said member being movable to a point between said extremepositions to actuate said restraining means and thereby trip the switch open.'

24. In an electric switch, the combination with tripping mechanism comprising restraining means for holding the switch closed, of a manually operable member mounted to move between two extreme positions, and connections between said member and said restraining means whereby said restraining means is actuated to trip the switch only when said member is betweenits extreme positions. v

25. In an electric switch, the combination witha restraining means for normally holding the switch closed, of a manually operable member mounted to move in one direction through a tripping position into an extreme position, and connections between said restraining means and said member whereby said restraining means is actuated to .trip said switch only during the movement of said member through tripping position.

26. In an electric switch, the combination with a locking toggle for holding the switch closed, and a'tripping lever for breaking said toggle to permit said switch to open, of a manually-operable member for actuating said lever, and connections between said lever and said" member whereby said lever is first brought into engagement with said toggle andjs then released during a continuous movement of said member in one direction. i a

27. In an electric switch, the combination with a locking toggle for holding-the switch closed, a tripping lever for breaking said toggle, and electrorespensive means for operating said tripping lever, of a manually operable member mounted to move into tripping position to operate said lever to break said toggle and to continue'its movement into extreme position to permit said lever to return to inoperative position.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set Witnesses:

G. C. HOLLISTER, HELEN ORFORD. 

